Planning panel backs Inland Port rezones but conditions UDOT traffic review

Tooele County planning commissioners voted to forward favorable recommendations on two industrial rezones tied to the Inland Port area, attaching conditions aimed at addressing traffic and access concerns at the Burmester/I‑80 interchange and along Higley Road.

The commission recommended approval of REZ2025-046, a request to rezone about 232.52 acres from MU‑40 to MG (general manufacturing) to support Inland Port–related development, on the condition that the landowner provide the project traffic study to the Utah Department of Transportation and obtain UDOT’s written response. The commission separately recommended approval of REZ2025-035 with a condition capping the combined daily trips from the rezoned area at 250 trips per day until Higley Road is “sufficiently improved,” after commissioners and staff raised concerns about the road’s width and capacity.

The actions responded to repeated questions about whether local roads and the Interstate 80 interchange can absorb future truck and employee traffic. Trish DeCloe, planning staff, told commissioners the rezones are consistent with the county’s land-use plan but acknowledged that “the main concern … is just that Higley Road, that’s gonna have to be reclassified as a truck route through the transportation plan, and it’s gonna have to be improved” to accommodate industrial uses. Rochelle (staff member) proposed the UDOT review condition during the discussion; commissioners adopted that as a formal requirement when recommending REZ2025-046.

Applicant Chuck Ackerlow (who identified himself as chair of the Tooele Valley Public Infrastructure District and as the project developer) told the commission the development team has invested millions in roads, utilities and geotechnical work and that the project’s infrastructure — including a 700,000‑gallon water tank and a modular wastewater plant — is being built to serve the industrial parcels. “We are developing everything,” Ackerlow said. He described an interlocal agreement with the county under which the infrastructure district will own and maintain streets and utilities inside the industrial area; he said that arrangement would limit impacts on off‑site systems.

Commissioners and several public speakers pressed for greater clarity on timing and phasing. Commissioner Mitchell noted a traffic estimate cited during the meeting and asked whether the county or developer can influence the pace of traffic growth. A planning staff response said infrastructure would be required as development comes in and that traffic engineers will specify lane and signal needs at the site plan stage. Commissioner Alder and others warned of a local “choke point” at the Burmester/I‑80 area and urged that traffic impacts be documented with UDOT.

Public comments included supportive statements from nearby landowners and commercial real estate representatives who said the project could bring jobs and commercial activity; one online speaker, Jamie Fitzgerald, identified herself as living “kitty corner” to the area.

Formal votes: REZ2025-046 carried on a unanimous roll call recommending the rezone to county council with the UDOT‑review condition (motion by Commissioner Mitchell; second by Commissioner Stets; yes votes recorded from Commissioners Mitchell, Alder, Stets, Scott, Beckstrom and Dow). REZ2025-035 carried on a unanimous roll call recommending the rezone with the 250‑trips‑per‑day cap and related conditions (motion by Commissioner Mitchell; second by Commissioner Dow; unanimous yes votes).

Why it matters: The two rezones would clear zoning barriers for large industrial and manufacturing uses near the Inland Port and Interstate 80. Commissioners attached traffic and phasing conditions to preserve safety and local road function while allowing development review to proceed.

What’s next: Both recommendations now go to the Tooele County Council for final action; the REZ2025-046 recommendation explicitly requires the applicant to submit traffic materials to UDOT and to supply the county with UDOT’s response as part of the review record.